I Hate Bullying
Bullying or harassment- a background summary paper
Judith Cooke Acting Manager Equity and Social Justice Branch Victoria University Melbourne "Bullying activates our ancient and existential fear of being excluded, and shatters our basic assumptions about ourselves, the world and other people, leading to severe biological problems" (Einarsen, 2000). Discrimination can turn into bullying, but bullying isn’t necessarily discrimination” (VicHealth, 2001,p.14) Abstract This paper is provides some background information provides on bullying and discrimination and is intended to serve as a discussion starter within the workshop. It includes some of the findings from the author’s research. The workshop session will explore the implications for equity practitioners in universities in dealing with complaints of bullying and in developing appropriate procedures. What is bullying? In the absence of a universally agreed definition, the first difficulty to address is definitional. Bullying is a process most of us are quick to recognise when we are the targets and slow to acknowledge when we are the perpetrators. It might be easier to consider what bullying is not. It might be suggested that the following acts are lawful, legitimate, proper and normally appropriate means of inducing another to comply with what can be generically termed a "request". I. A supervisor asks a staff member to do something clearly within their position description in a straightforward way orally or in writing. 2. A coordinator asks a teacher to take on board received criticism, whether by way of response to refutable allegations or by way of discussion of possible improvement. Such a request would be one to one and not done in a way reasonable people would class as humiliating, disingenuous, coercive or serving other agendas. 3. A group asks an individual to take on board its concems without threat of sanctions at the first stage of such communication. 4. A supervisor refuses a request for leave, time
Judith Cooke Acting Manager Equity and Social Justice Branch Victoria University Melbourne "Bullying activates our ancient and existential fear of being excluded, and shatters our basic assumptions about ourselves, the world and other people, leading to severe biological problems" (Einarsen, 2000). Discrimination can turn into bullying, but bullying isn’t necessarily discrimination” (VicHealth, 2001,p.14) Abstract This paper is provides some background information provides on bullying and discrimination and is intended to serve as a discussion starter within the workshop. It includes some of the findings from the author’s research. The workshop session will explore the implications for equity practitioners in universities in dealing with complaints of bullying and in developing appropriate procedures. What is bullying? In the absence of a universally agreed definition, the first difficulty to address is definitional. Bullying is a process most of us are quick to recognise when we are the targets and slow to acknowledge when we are the perpetrators. It might be easier to consider what bullying is not. It might be suggested that the following acts are lawful, legitimate, proper and normally appropriate means of inducing another to comply with what can be generically termed a "request". I. A supervisor asks a staff member to do something clearly within their position description in a straightforward way orally or in writing. 2. A coordinator asks a teacher to take on board received criticism, whether by way of response to refutable allegations or by way of discussion of possible improvement. Such a request would be one to one and not done in a way reasonable people would class as humiliating, disingenuous, coercive or serving other agendas. 3. A group asks an individual to take on board its concems without threat of sanctions at the first stage of such communication. 4. A supervisor refuses a request for leave, time